Taken By A Werewolf

XII

Stacey had parked the car down the street from Slaide's beachfront house. When the girls walked up to the mansion--Slaide was one of the Cali rich kids--they could tell the party was already in full swing by the number of cars, bikes and scooters parked on the lawn and driveway. The music was blasting loudly, a booming bass sending tremors through the girls' bodies. Outside, people were talking, smoking and drinking in the warm Indian summer night. Indy recognized a few people from her class, but most of them she had never seen before. Of course, Stacey knew just about everyone they passed, and greeted a dozen people before making it to the front door, which was open.

"Let's get drinks!" Stacey shouted over the loud music.

Indy nodded and followed her sort-of-friend to the kitchen. Stacey grabbed two red cups and filled them with the first bottle of liquor she found on the counter. Indy had no idea what it was. Stacey handed one to Indy and raised hers.

"To hot neighbors," she toasted.

Indy just chuckled and clinked her cup against Stacey's. Stacey downed the drink at once, and Indy quickly poured hers in the sink when she wasn't looking. Getting drunk was most definitely not a good idea if she wanted to make it back home. She assumed Stacey would stay with Ted, so she needed to find another ride or call an Uber.

"Stacey, you made it," a handsome guy in dark jeans came from the sea of drunk teenagers and wrapped his arms around her waist. Judging by the way Stacey blushed and turned into a mess, this had to be Ted. Indy grinned, Stacey was always so composed and aware of herself and how she affected people around her. This was nothing like her. Ted was doing to her what she did to everyone else. Maybe they were just perfect for each other.

"Todd, this is Indy from work," Stacey finally introduced her, reminding Indy that she wasn't her friend. She was from work.

Ted gave her a broad smile.

"I've heard a lot about you," he said. Liar.

"Likewise," Indy replied. And that was most definitely not a lie.

"So Indy's gonna hang with us until midnight," Stacey informed Ted, who looked at her annoyed.

"Great," he said in a tone that didn't sound like he meant it.

Indy looked at Stacey who gave her an awkward laugh.

"We'll have so much fun together," she said, nudging Ted in a way Indy wasn't supposed to see. But of course, she saw.

"Definitely!" Ted exclaimed, way too excited.

Indy felt like she had overstayed her welcome with these two. Five minutes was a lot, she had to admit. She looked around the room, looking for an escape that wasn't as awkward and toe curling as this encounter. She spotted a friendly face in the backyard and decided to leave Stacey from work and her precious Ted to themselves.

"You lovebirds have fun, I'm going to bore Coop now."

"Are you sure, hon?" Stacey asked her, seeming a little guilty. Good. She had promised not to ditch her and yet here they are.

"Yeah yeah, I'll see you later." She turned to Ted.

"Nice to meet you, Ted."

And then she walked off.

"It's Todd!" she heard him call after her. She resisted the urge to give him the finger.

Indy walked up to Cooper, who's eyes lit up as soon as he saw her. He pulled her into a tight hug. She knew he wouldn't be mad at her for long. And maybe he was a little drunk as well.

"Indy! I thought you said you weren't coming."

"Changed my mind," she shrugged.

"I'm glad you did," he said with a sincerity Ted could only dream of.

"Coop, who's your friend?" a tall guy with sun-bleached hair that screamed surfer dude asked.

"We're not friends," Indy stated quickly. She wasn't going to have this awkward situation twice tonight.

"We're lovers," Cooper said with a smirk, reminding her of their previous conversation.

"Just because you try to get in my pants most days, doesn't mean we're lovers," Indy said, rolling her eyes and shoving him playfully with her elbow.

"You just wait and see," he replied, wiggling his eyebrows, "the day will come that you can no longer resist, and we'll see who's laughing then."

Indy laughed. The boy was crazy, but she kind of liked that about him. He put his arm around her shoulders, pulling her tighter against his athletic body. Indy didn't mind at all.

"Right..."

Indy had totally forgotten about the surfer guy that was now awkwardly standing in front of them.

"I'm Indy," she smiled at him.

"The Indy?" the guy asked, looking at Coop, who tried to subtly shake his head.

"No, just a regular Indy, I think," she said. He laughed at that, and she felt Coop's tensed muscles relax a little.

"I'm Slaide, so, welcome," he sent her a lazy grin.

"Ah, so you are the Slaide," she said, "who lives here and throws this party."

"The one and only."

He turned to Cooper.

"I like your girl."

"I'm not his-" Indy started.

"We were just about to play a game of beer pong, and I need a team mate if I ever want to beat this guy," he nodded towards Cooper.

"Do you wanna join me?" Slaide asked her with a mischievous twinkle in his eyes.

"Are you sure?" Indy asked, surprised.

"I'm terrible."

"Good," Slaide threw an arm around her shoulder.

"Because I'm thirsty."